Taylor and Peete are Tribute honorees

People who are chosen to be Tribute Road Race honorees are always surprised they were singled out by their peers.

That is really what makes a good honoree: Someone who does what they do for the youth of Clinton without expecting any recognition.

The 2014 honorees are Laura Tyler Taylor and Ed Peete. The two will be recognized during the ceremony after the road race on Saturday, May 10.

Laura Tyler Taylor

"I am amazed, overwhelmed and so flattered that people thought that I was deserving of this nomination," Taylor said. "Since we have lived in Clinton, every year I look forward to seeing who is nominated for the Shillelagh (the award of the Leprechaun Society) and who is nominated for the Tribute. I love reading about what the nominees have done to get nominated so to have it happen to me is an amazing feeling. To know that someone took pen to paper and wrote about something about me is humbling."

One of Taylor's nominations came from Kristi LaPerle, who called Taylor a "Super Woman." Taylor helped found the school volunteer program in Clinton and is in charge of the Clinton Middle School Volunteer Program, while LaPerle is head of the elementary school program.

"Truly, Laura Taylor does it all, from being an incredible wife and mother, raising three wonderful children, all in the Clinton Public School System, to being a part of a great many aspects in our little town," LaPerle added, who said Taylor does a great many things with the volunteer program, including "decorating, running the school store, doing the photocopying and helping the principal with any task she asks for.

"Laura also helps run the Little League in town, is on the Conservation Committee, is a Boy Scout den leader and still finds time to substitute at the elementary school. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her, and am continuously inspired by her go-go spirit," LaPerle said.

Many other nomination letters outlined Taylor's work.

Julie Grady-Pulnik met Taylor through Cub Scouts and they become friends.

"Instead of being a bystander, she took on many projects involving the children in our community. She helped with clothing drives and yard sales to benefit the Community Resource Center. She became greatly involved in Olde Home Days and joined the committee to do the most she could to help Olde Home Days thrive," Grady-Pulnik wrote.

"She spends endless hours helping the children in our community," Grady-Pulnik added. If a parent has a question, most think to ask Laura; she likely has an answer and, if she doesn't, she finds out even when that isn't expected of her. She is always willing to go above and beyond to help anyone. I know of parents who told me they went to her about concerns with things that happened at baseball last year and I also saw Laura solve their concerns. She will take any comment or suggestion and address it and do her best to solve it."

Elizabeth Black wrote about a time when Taylor was her son's Cub Scout den leader "very much pregnant with her daughter."

"Laura offered to help my son learn to ride a bike," Black wrote in her nomination letter. "We met at the middle school parking lot, and she ran with him back and forth helping him learn to ride a bike. Laura has a very big, loving heart. I also feel she takes on the role of school mom to all of the children."

Taylor said she was totally surprised by the letter-writing campaign, which was first suggested by Grady-Pulnik.

She found out from a friend that there was a Facebook group to support her nomination.

"Seriously how cool is that?" Taylor asked. "It is pretty much one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Honestly, though, it still does not seem real to me."

Ed Peete

Peete was nominated by someone who knows him well, his daughter Erin.

Erin described her father as a "passionate, hard-working, determined coach who has lent his sports expertise and encouraging spirit to many Clinton athletes over the last 20-plus years. And, best of all, he does not look for a paycheck or trophy. He does it all for one thing – the love of the game."

Ed said he was "shocked" by the nomination, more so because Erin didn't tell him she nominated him. "It was a complete surprise. Not once did she let on."

Ed has run all but a few of the Tributes — probably at least 25, by his estimate.

"Growing up in Clinton instills you with a special bond of family, friendship, community and, best of all, sports teams," Erin wrote in her nomination letter. Once his oldest daughter was old enough to play sports, Ed volunteered as a coach of youth soccer teams, Lassie League teams and Parks and Recreation basketball teams.

"From circa 1990 until the early 2000s, you could find my dad on the Clinton youth soccer fields in the fall, at St. John's Gym in the winter and on the softball fields in the spring, coaching many different teams throughout his tenure. At least two nights a week, and nearly every Saturday, were dedicated to practices and games as he taught his own children and many more the values of being a Clinton Gael and he dedicated his time for something so special – the love of the game."

Ed's career at Clinton High School started in 1998 with a group of freshmen girls wanting to be "basketball stars. I watched him each and every day work so hard to make those girls better and he never gave up," Erin wrote. "He didn't care that they lost every game, or if it took them 100 tries to complete his infamous 'one-minute drill,' he showed up with the same positive attitude each day and did it all for one thing – the love of the game."

In 2000, he was involved in an accident at work, where he almost lost his hand and needed multiple reconstructive surgeries. After being told he had to take a year off from work, he decided to coach.

"He always dreamed of coaching Clinton High School football, but, due to the time constraints with a full-time job, he could never make 2:30 p.m. practices work. Instead of listening to doctors, saying 'what do they know anyways?', and resting his injury, he immediately contacted his former CHS coach for an opportunity to help.

"That same year, after football was over, there was high participation in boys' basketball and the school needed a freshman coach, but didn't have the budget. No money? No problem for coach Peete. He immediately volunteered once again and spent the winter coaching the new team," Erin wrote. "This man spent his entire year, his only year out of work, with an injury, giving back to CHS athletics, all for one reward – the love of the game."

Ed Peete later took a job as head coach of the Clinton Irish Blizzard, a semi-pro football team. Erin said he recruited young players who loved football and "looked at his players as superstars, allowing them to be on the sidelines, bringing water to the players during timeouts and experiencing the thrill of being so close to the action." "But, most importantly, he stresssed the importance of respect, proper language and sportsmanship to his players as they were role models to aspiring Clinton High football stars."

During his first year as the Blizzard coach, he was awarded Coach of the Year for the league and, throughout his 10 years coaching, he led the team to eight playoff appearances, one Super Bowl win and five sportsmanship award wins.

Ed's coaching has continued, with the high school softball team and, now in the Clinton Hoops league.

"How many coaches today can say they have volunteered to coach more than 10 different teams for 20 years just for the thrill of coaching, the love of teaching and the passion for success?" Erin wrote in her nomination.

Illustrious honorees

Taylor and Ed Peete join an illustrious group of past honorees.

"Honored does not seem like a strong enough word," Taylor said. "This probably sounds corny, but I am amazed at the number of people who continuously volunteer in Clinton … Most of these folks serve for no pay, just the enjoyment of giving back to the children and citizens of Clinton. It is a wonderful group of people to be grouped with and, again, I am completely humbled."

Having seen about 25 Tribute ceremonies as a runner in the road race, Ed said he was honored to be among the list of people he has seen on the stage.

"Every year, I remember different things about the honorees," he said. "They were always a teacher or someone you knew deserved to be there. I am speechless right now."